PHOTO BY KAREN RAWLINGS

"TEX On Arrival (Winter Edition)"

Flying into the Telluride airport is not for the faint of heart. At an elevation of 9,078 feet, sitting atop Dove Creek Mesa, TEX is the highest commercial airport in North America. It also happens to arguably be the most breathtaking airport in the world. Wind, weather, visibility, and the enormous mountains surrounding the runway all make for a challenging approach. 

The same demanding conditions also give a photographer fits. Wind or turbulence causes camera shake and motion blur. A cloud may decide to rear its ugly head and sit in the wrong spot.  Other times, the harsh sun melts all the snow on top of the mesa, making for a less interesting shot.  

But every so often, a storm comes in and clears the way for the purest snow-kissed mountain tops and crisp runway your eyes will ever see.  The backdrop of a ski resort, an old mining town, and a majestic mountain, directly ahead of a runway with a cliff on each side... it all makes for a heart stopping photograph.